Angiotensin At1 receptor signalling pathways in neurons

1. The aim of the present article is to review the intracellular signal transduction pathways that are influenced by the peptide angiotensin (Ang) II, acting via its type 1 (AT(1)) receptor, in neurons. 2. The AT(1) receptors couple to a wide variety of signalling pathways in peripheral tissues, such as kidney, heart and vascular smooth muscle. A similar diversity of signalling mechanisms exists for AT(1) receptors in neurons. 3. We outline the known neuronal AT(1) receptor signalling pathways as they relate to function. Pathways that couple activation of AT(1) receptors to short-term changes in neuronal membrane ionic currents and firing rate will be reviewed. These are different from the pathways that elicit longer-term changes in enzyme activity and gene expression and, ultimately, increases in noradrenaline synthesis. 4. Novel AT(1) receptor signalling pathways discovered through gene expression profiling and their potential functional significance have been discussed.